Inking mechanism for printing presses



Dec. 18, 1934. EH 1,985,186

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 8, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

'fio'erz Mia/Ma BY Q ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 18, 1934.

R. MIEHLE INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 8, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 18, 1934.

R. MIEHLE INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 8, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet IN VEN TOR. Haber! Mia/z [6 BY W, ,Z

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 18, 1934 INKING MECHANISM- FOR PRINTING 'PRESSES 1 Robert Miehle, Chicago, 111.; Mabel K. Miehle administratrix of said Robert Miehle, de-.

ceased Application June 8, 1931, serial No. 542,760"

I 33 Claims. (o1. 1o1-s57) My invention relates particularlyto reciprocating bed and cylinder printing'presses and has for its main object the provision of a novel, conven ient and effective inking mechanism for thistype '5 of printing press which adequately and uniformly inks the printing form without necessitating an excessive distance of bed travel or, conversely, which adequately and uniformly inks a relatively I long form with a given-distance of bed-travel. l With'this object in view my invention" consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said object and certain other objects, hereinafter appearing, are effected, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the said drawingss Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of a printing press embodying my invention with parts broken away and shownin section; v

Figure 2 is a partial transversely condensed'end elevation of the same with parts broken away and shown in section; s Figure 3 is another partial side elevation of the same with parts broken away and shown in section; and 1 v Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views of the same in side elevation; 30 Figure 6 is .a partial end elevation of the reciprocating bed with parts broken away and shown in section; and j Figure 7 is, a partial top plan view of one s1de of the ink roller frame structure, hereinafter described.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views. 7 1 Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a two revolution impression cylinder and 2 designates a reciprocating bed which carries a form 3 from which sheets on the impression cylinder are printed during stroking of the bed-in the rearward direction, i. e., to the left in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, 45 the cylinder rotating in a corresponding direction and being lifted out of contact with the form during forward stroking of the bed, all as is usual.

Figure 1 shows the bed at the beginning of its printing stroke while Figure 3-shows the bed at the end of the printing stroke preparatory to its forward or non-printing stroke.

,The main frame of the press includes usual sideframes 4, and'the bed 2 is reciprocated by a suit-- able reciprocating mechanism, not shown, while thecylinder l. isdriven intirned relation with the bed by gearing which is inclusive of a gear 5 mounted on the shaft of the cylinder and rotatably secured therewith by means of a headed screw 6 passing through a hole through the web of this gear and screwthreaded into one of two an-, 5 gularly spaced holes 7 in a disk 8 securedon the cylinder shaft whereby. the cylinder may be shifted angularly with reference to its timing with the bed for purposes hereinafter described; See Figures'l,' 2 and3'. K 1O Mounted on the rear ends of the sideframes 4 are feed board frames 9, lower portions 11015 which extend forwardly and support an inkfouns tain l2, whichis inclusive of a fountain "roller 13, spaced upwardly from the plane of the bed 2 and under which the bed passesf Arranged between the lower portions 11 of; the feed board framesand the cylinderjl is'a rear form roller; frame comprising frames 14 arrangedat oppo site sides of the bed and secured at theirrear or outer ends' to a transverse shaft 15 which is journaled on the lowerportions 11 of the feed, board framesfor pivotal movement .of the rear form" roller framevertically. See; Figure, 3.

Arranged forwardly of the cylinderjl is a front '25 form roller frame comprising transversely spaced frames lfiarr'anged'at opposite sidesiof the bed and having their front or. outer ends coaxially pivoted on the adjacent sideiframes 4, as designated at 1'7, for'pivotal movement of the front roller frame vertically. 'See Figures 1 and 2. The frames" 14 and 16 are provided with downwardly extending legs 19 which engage downwardly on the side frames 4 ,to limit downward movement of the roller frames. '7

I Mounted on each form roller frame, by means of suitable adjustable sockets or fork bearings 21, is a group of composition form inking rollers 22, as shown each group comprising;four,j,and

when each form roller frame is in its lower position, as determined by the legs 19 thereofengaging downwardly. on the side frames .4, its form rollers engage the form 3 on the "bed 2, and roll thereon to ink the same during recipro cation of the bed. i I

Theform roller frames are provided with;up-l wardly extending supports 24 between the axes] of the outerform rollers and those of the form. rollers adjacent thereto, and 'pivotally mounted on these'supports above the form rollers are 50 distributor roller frames comprising transversely spaced frames 25 secured ontransverse shafts 26' which are journaled on the upper ends of the supports 24. The lower positions of the distributor roller frames with'reference to the form roller frames are determined by abutting lugs 2'7 on these frames, and the form and distributor roller frames are locked in this relative position by hand operated hook levers 28 pivoted inwardly on the form roller frames and engaging over studs 29 onvthe inner ends of the distributor roller frames.

Release of the levers 28 from the studs'29 permits upward movement of the distributor roller frames to separate the distributor rollers, hereinafter described, carried by the distributor roller frames from the form rollers 22 carried by on the upper ends of the supports 24 of the rear form roller'frame for purposes hereinafter described, the hook being released from this shaft to permit movement of the rear distributor roller frame to its lower position. See Figures 3 and '7.

The distributor roller arrangement for the form rollers at the rear of the cylinder is as follows. See Figures 1 and 3.

' A metal vibrator distributor roller 34 is carried by the rear distributor roller frame and contacts the intermediate pair of, the rear form rollers, and a second. metal vibrator distributor roller 35 also carried by the, rear distributor roller frame contacts the inner roller, of the rear form rollers but does not contact the form roller adjacent said inner form roller. A composition distributor roller 36 also carried by the rear dis.- tributor roller frame contacts both of thedistributor rollers 34 and 35.

A metal'distribu'tor roller 37 of relatively small diameter contacts the outer pair of the rear form rollers and has its axis disposedin the region of the axial plane of the form rollers to permit the removal and installation of the adjacentform rollers without disturbing this distributor roller. Bearings 38 carry the distributor roller 37 and are journaled on the aforesaid shaft 33, and are accordingly mounted on the supports 24 of the rear roller frame, for pivotal movement for adjustment of the roller 37 in directions corree spending with the axial plane of the form rollers particularly to accommodate for the adjustment of the inner form roller contacted by, theroller 37 to the distributor roller 34.

' The distributor roller arrangement for the form rollers at the front of the cylinder is as follows. See Figure l.

' A metal vibrator distributor roller 41 is carried by .the front distributor roller frame and con-. tacts the intermediate pair of front form rollers, and metal distributor rollers 42 of relatively small diameter contact respectively the outer and inner pairsof front form rollers and have theiraxes disposed in the region of the axial plane of the form rollers to permitthe removal and installation of the adjacent form rollers without dise turbing these distributor rollers. Bearings 43 carry the distributor rollers 42 and are mounted, as designated at 44, for pivotal movement for adjustment of the rollers 42 in directions corresponding withthe axial plane of the form rollers particularly to accommodate for the adjustment of the intermediate pair of front form rollers to the distributor roller 41, the bearings 43 of the outer roller 42 being mounted on the supports 24 of the front form roller frame and the bearings 43 of the inner roller 42 being mounted on upwardly extending supports 45 on the front roller frame and disposed between the axes of the inner pair. of front form rollers.

Secured on the shaft 26 of the rear distributor roller frame are transversely spaced bearing arms 46 whichextend' upwardly and forwardly from this shaft and have at their upper ends slot bearings 4'7 which tilt rearwardly and downwardly. See Figures 1 and 3. A metal'roller 48 of relatively small diameter is mounted in the slot bearings 47 for rotation and movement along these slot bearings into and out of contact with the distributor roller 36, the roller 48 being yieldably urged rearwardly out of contact with the roller ,36 by reasonof the rearward and downward inclination of the bearing slots, as shown in Figure 3.

A composition ductor roller 49 is mounted at the free ends of transversely spaced arms 51 which are secured on the aforesaid shaft 33 which is journaled on the supports 24 of the rear for-m roller frame above the rear form rollers and immediately to the rear of the rear distributor roller frame shaft 26. As so carried the ductor roller 49 is movable to alternately contact the roller 13 of the ink fountain 12, see Figure 3, and the roller 48 and to periodically move this roller 48 into contact with the distributor roller 36 for the transfer of ink from the ductor roller to the roller 48 and from it to the distributor roller 36. As the ductor roller moves toward the ink fountain, the roller 48, under the influence of gravity, moves rearwardly in the slot bearings 47 out of contact with the roller 36.

The rear ends of the slot bearings 47 are provided with cushioning elements. 52, such as leather, to cushion the-roller'48 at the rearward end of its movement, and these-bearings are open at the top, as shown, for the removal and instal lation of V this roller. I The shaft 33 is oscillated from the'press mech--' anism in timed relation therewith in a usual manner not shown, to alternately contact the fountain roller 13 and the roller 48 and to periodicallyfcontact the roller 43 with the distributor roller 36.

The roller 43 serves in the nature of an additional distributor roller and being of relatively small diameter serves to break up the ink. in transferring it onto the distributor roller 36.

The distributor and form rollers are driven with the bed, as hereinafter described, and preferably, the ductor roller 49 contacts the roller 48 and moves it into; contact with the distributor roller 36 when the bed is at the front end ofits movement, as shown inFigure 1.

This condition is maintained throughout a portion of the rearward or printing stroke of the bed, and during this movement of the bed the distributor roller 36 rotates in the direction, i. e., clockwise in Figure 1, to first bring the fresh supply of. ink into contact with the distributor roller 35 which supplies the inner form roller of the rear group, with the result that this form roller receives the greatest supply of ink for transfer to the form. This tends to insure a good. supplyof ink forwardly on the form, so that the front form rollers receive an adequate supply: of ink, as hereinafter described.

The pivot mounting of. the ductor roller carrier,

comprising the arms 51 secured on the shaft 33 which is journaled on the upper end of the supports 24 of-the rear form roller frame above the rear form rollers, is independent of and spaced from the inkfountain 12 which is adjacently spaced outwardly and upwardly from the outer roller of the rear form rollers. Accordingly, space is provided for the removal and installation of this outer form roller vertically past the ink fountain when the ductor roller 49 is positioned away from the fountain as shown in Figure 1. Tolthis end the fork bearings or sockets of this outer form roller are extended obliquely upward, as designated at 55, to guide this form roller in its installation and removal.

The bed 2 is provided with a downwardly facing rack 56 on its under side, and a transverse shaft'5'7, disposed in the region of the mid point of the travel of the bed, and preferably, as shown, disposed rearwardly of the axial plane of the cylinder normal to the bed, is journaled on the press frame and has a gear 58 secured on its inner end, which meshes constantly with the rack 56, so that the shaft 57 is rotated in one direction with the travel of the bed in one direction and is rotated in the opposite direction with the travel of the bed in the opposite direction.

Secured on the outer end of the shaft 57 on the outside of one of the side frames 4 is a gear 59 which meshes with an idler gear 61 which is rotatably mounted on a bracket 62 secured downwardly on the adjacent side frame 4 rearwardly of the cylinder 1.

The distributor rollers 34 and of the rear roller group have gear pinions 63 secured on ends thereof, which mesh with the gear 61, so that the rear roller group is driven with the bed, the pinions 63 disengaging from the gear 61 when the rear distributor roller frame is moved to its upper position, as hereinbefore described, and engaging the gear 61 when this 'distributor roller frame is moved into its lower position.

Secured on the side frame 4 adjacent the gear 59 is a bracket 64 upon which two meshing idler gears 65 and 66 are rotatably mounted. The gear 65 meshes with the gear 59, and an idler gear 67, rotatably mounted on a bracket 68, secured'downwardly on the adjacent side frame 4 forwardly of the cylinder 1, meshes with the gear 66 so that the gear 67 is driven from the bed in the same manner as is the gear 61. 41 of the front roller group has a gear pinion 69 secured on an end thereof which meshes with the gear 67 so that the front roller group is driven with the bed, the pinion disengaging fromthe the ends of the bed. See Figure 3.

Neither the front or rear group of form rollers I 22 completely covers the form 23 on the bed, so

that at each reversal of the bed one group is above the form. In order that there be no tendency of the form rollers to wipe the form at the reversals of the bed the following is provided.

As, hereinbefore described, the front and rear The distributor roller,

form roller frames are pivotally mounted: for vertical movement, their lower positions in which the form rollers engage-the form being deter mined by the legs 19 engaging downwardly on the side fra'mes4.

Arranged on opposite sides of the bed 2 adjacent respective ends thereof are alined pairs of rollers 71 which are mounted on the bed by means of slotted head eccentric studs '72 secured in angularly adjusted-position in bores in the bed by set screws '73 screwthreaded in the bed so that the vertical position of the rollers may be adjusted. See Figures 2, 3 and 6. w

The pairs of rollers '71 are offset transversely, as will be seen in Figures 2 and 6, and the inner ends of the front form roller frames 16 are provided with downwardly facing cam formations 74 alined with the pair ofrollers 71 adjacent the rear end of the bed, while the inner ends of the rear form roller frames 14 are also provided with downwardly facing cam formations '74- alined with the pair of rollers 71 adjacent the front end of the bed. The rear pair of rollers 71 and the cam formations 74 of the front form roller frames 16 are nearest the side of the bed and these cam formations are connected with the front form roller frames by a connecting portion '76 disposed above the rollers 71 adjacent the front of the bed to clear the same, the cam formations '74 of the rear form roller frames 14 clearing the rollers 71 adjacent the rear of the bed by reason of these cam formations being disposed outwardly of these rollers.

In operation, each pair of rollers 71 engage their cam formations 74to lift the corresponding form roller frame and with its form rollers to disengage the same from the form at the reversal of the bed in which the form underlie-s its-form rollers, as shown at the left in Figure 1 and at the right in Figure 3, each form roller frame andits form rollers being restored to its lower position to re-establish engagement of its form rollers with the form immediately'after the reversal.

The form rollers are maintained in contact with the distributor rollers during. the disengagement of the form rollers with the form during reversals of the bed, each form and distributor roller group being lifted and lowered as an operative unit, and, the lift not being great enough to disengage the pinions 63 from the gear 61 or the pinion 69 from the gear 67, the form and distributor rollergroups are reversed with'the bed.

The axis of movement of the rear form roller frame, i. e., that of the shaft 15, is so disposed that an are on this axis and passing through the axis of the gear 61, designated at '75 in Figure 3,

passes between the axes of the pinions 63, so that the rotativetendency of the pinions 63 due to their bodily movement with reference to the gear 61, while in mesh therewith, 'as the rear roller group is moved on the axis of the shaft 15 is not great and ismore or less equalized, so that it is not detrimental.

The axis of movement of the front roller frame, i. e., that of the pivots 17, is so disposed that an arc on this axis and passing through the axis of the gear 6'7, designated at 80 in Figure 1, passes adjacent the mesh point of the gears 67 and 69, so that the rotative tendency of the gear 69 due to its bodily movement with reference to the gear 67, while in mesh therewith, as the front roller group is moved on the axis of the pivots 17 is not great, so that it is not detrimental. Journaled in a bore through one of the side frames 4 is a transversely disposed eccentric shaft.

'76 which underlies a leg 19 of the rear form roller frame. See Figures 1, 2 and 3. This shaftis provided' with a hand, crank 77' on the outside of the side frame, and the side frame is-provided with stops 78 engageable with the hand crank to limit angular movement of the eccentric shaft.

When the eccentric shaft T6 isat one end of its movement the rear form roller frame may-assume its lower position in which the rear form rollers contact the form,v as shown in Figure 1. When the eccentric shaft '76 is in its opposite position the rear form. roller frame is positioned in its up. per position in which the rear form rollers are out of contactwith the form, as shown in Figure While not shown; it is obvious that a duplicate eccentric shaft device may be placed on the other. side ofthe machine to obviate torsional strain on the rear form roller frame, both eccentric shafts being positioned correspondingly.

J ournaled on andv extending across between the sideframes 4 below the pivots 1"! is a transverse shaft '79 which is disposed below the plane of the bed 2, and secured on this shaft immediately inside of the side frames 4 are alined eccentric collars 81. See Figures 1 and 2.

Secured on the shaft '79 on the outside of one of the side frames is a handle 82, and this side frame is-provided with stops 83 engageable by the handle to limit angular movement of the shaft 79.

The front formroller frames 16 are provided with arms 84 extending downwardly from the pivots 17' thereof, the lower ends of which arms are engageable by the eccentric collars 81. Ac oordingly, when the shaft '79 is at one end of its movement the front form roller frame may assumeits lower position in which the front form rollers contact the form, as shown in Figure 3. When the shaft 79 is in its opposite position the upper form roller frame is positioned in its upper position in which the front form rollers are out of contact with the form, as shown in Figure 1.

Thus are provided manually controlled means for positioning the-form rollers out of contact with the form during pr-olonged' tops of thepress and for another purpose hereinafter set forth, the eccentric shafts 'i'o'afod '19 being preferably manipulated to position the form roller frames in their upper positions while the press is running so that the rollers 71 cooperating with the cam formations- 74 do the actually lifting of the form roller groups and their frames;

As hereinbefore set forth, neither group of form rollers 22 completely covers the form 23. The groups of form. rollers at the front and rear of the cylinder overlap in, their contact with the form, and the ink fountain 12 constitutes the sole source of ink supply to all of the form and distributor rollers, and, as shown, the form constitutes the sole source ink supply for the formand distributor roller group at the front of the cylinder, the form receiving ink from the rear form rollers and the front form rollers taking upink from the portion of the form on which the front and. rear form rollers overlap and reapplying it to the formparticularly to that portion of the form not contactedby the rear form rollers.

The ink taken up from the form by the front form rollers is distributed thereon by the distributor rollers 41 and i2 so that the ink is applied uniformly.

Both the front and rear groups of form rollers are each suflicient in number to adequately ink the form, so that both groups combine in adequately inking the form throughout, as shown the entire form being contacted by at least four form rollers, and a great portion of it by more; This is, shown in Figurev 4 in which the bed is shown at the rear end of itsmovement in unbroken lines and at the front end of its movement in broken lines.

The present accepted standardv of inking apparatus, for reciprocating bed and cylinderprinting presses, adequate for all classes of printinginvolves four form, inking rollers completely covering the form with the requisite number of. form roller distributor rollers together with four ink table distributor rollers contacting an ink table carried with the bed, which arrangement involves a, relatively long, bed travel and. a corresponding relatively long machine. The inking device of my invention provides as good, if not better, inking with. arelatively short bed travel andv a corresponding relatively short machine, and without necessitating a greater number of: inking rollers.

The ink fountain 12'supplies a sufiicientquantity of ink to the rear roller group for inking the entire form, and, due to the fact that the rearward stroke ofthe bed is the printing stroke, ink

applied to the form by the rear form rollers is transferred. to the front form rollers on the forward or non-printing stroke of the bed without the printing impression intervening, so that an adequate supply of ink is transferred to the front form rollers. Accordingly, the entire form is ade quately inked with a relatively short stroke of the bed, or,.conversely, a relatively long form is adequately inked in a given stroke of the bed.

In certain classes of work where a shorterform is used, it is desirable that the form rollerof the 5 front group nearest the cylinder, which is the last rollerto roll over the form previous to impression, shall. completely cover the form. Accordingly, see Figure 5, the shorter form, designated at 85, is positioned on the bed so that the rear or gripper end of the form is forward of the form roller of the front group nearest the cylinder whenthe bed is at the front end of its movement.

To correspond the timing of the sheet grippers 86 ofthe cylinder with this position of the rear or gripper edge of the form, the cylinder is shifted angularly with reference to its timing with the bed from an advanced position, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, tea retarded position, as shown in Figure 5, by removing the screw 6 from the engaged hole 7 of the disk 8 and engaging it in the other hole '7 of the disk.

Thefront and rear distributor and form roller units are operative units when the form roller frames are in their upper positions with the form rollers out of contact with the form, the distributor rollers retaining their contact with the form rollers and the pinions' 63 retaining their mesh with the gear 61- and the pinion Gil-retaining its mesh with the gear 67, so that the front and rear roller groups are driven with the bed with the form rollers out of contact with the form.

In inking up the press the form roller frames are positioned in their upper positions by the eccentric shafts 76 and '79. With the press running ink is supplied to the front roller group by hand, and preferably to the rear roller group by hand as the ductor roller takes too long to accumulate sufficient ink on these rollers for printing. When sufficient ink'is distributed on both front and rear roller groups, the form rollers are permitted to contact the'form for printing, whereupon the ink fountain supplies all of the-ink.

While I have described and shown the pre ferred' embodiment of my invention I donot wish this roller does not completely cover a correspond- "to be limited to the precise details of construction as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with groups of form inking rollers disposed on opposite sides of the cylinder and overlapping in their contact with a form on the bed and neither group completely covering the form, of distributor rollers for said form rollers, means for moving each group of form rollers out of contactwith the form during the corresponding reversal of the; bed and re-establishing said contact immediately thereafter while maintaining contact of the form rollers with said distributor rollers, means for supplying ink to the rollers disposed on the rear side'of the cylinder, said bed carrying the sole source of ink supply for the rollers disposed on the front sideof the cylinder, and means for drivingt'said form and distributor rollers with the bed.

2. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with groups of form inking rollers disposed on opposite sides of, the cylinder and overlapping in their COIItaCUWith-BLfOIm on the bed and neither group completely" covering the form and the roller nearest the cylinder on the front side thereof completely covering the form, of distributor rollers for said form rollers, means for moving said groups of form rollers out of contact with the form during the corresponding reversals of the bed and re-establishing said contact immediately thereafter while maintaining contact of said form rollers with said distributor rollers, means for supplying ink to the rollers disposed at the rear side of the cylinder, said form constituting the sole sourceof ink supply for the rollers disposed at the front side of the cylinder, and means for driving said form and distributor rollers with the bed.

v 3. ma reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with groups'of form inking rollers disposed on opposite sides of the cylinder and overlapping in their contact with a form on the bed and neither group completely covering the form, of means for angularly shifting the cylinder with reference to its timing withthe bed from a retarded position,- in which the roller nearest the cylinder on the front side thereof completely covers the form, to an advanced-position inwhich this roller does not completely cover a corresponding rearwardly extended form, and means for supplying ink to the rollers disposed at the rear side of the cylinder, said ink supply constituting the sole source of ink supply for all of said rollers. Y Y J 4. In a reciprocating bedand cylinder printing press the combination with groups of form inking rollers disposed on opposite sides of the cylinder and overlapping in their contact with a form on the bed and neither group completely covering the form, each group being sufficient in number to adequately ink the form and comprising at least three, of distributor rollers for said groups, means for moving said groups of form rollers out of contact with the form during the corresponding reversals of the bed and re-establishing said contact immediately thereafter while maintaining contact of said form rollers with said distributor rollers,means for angularly shifting the cylinder with reference to its timing with the bed from a retarded position, in which the roller nearest the cylinder on the front side thereof completely covers the form, to an advanced position-in which ingly rearwardly extended form, means for supplying ink to a distributor roller of the group of form rollers disposed at the rear of the cylinder, said form constituting the sole source of ink supply to the rollers disposed at the front of the cylinder, and means for driving said form and distributor rollers with the bed. 7

5. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with groups of form inking rollers disposed at opposite sides ofthe cylinder and overlapping in their contact with a, form on the bed and neither group completely covering the form, of distributor rollers for said form rollers, means for moving'each group of form rollers out of contact with theform during the corresponding reversals of the bed and re-establishing said contact immediately thereafter while maintaining contact of the form rollers with said distributor rollers," means, for supplying ink to the rollers at the rear side of the cylinder, said form constituting the sole source of ink supply for the form rollers at the frontside of the cylinder, means for driving said form and distributor rollers with the bed, and manually actuated means for positioning said form rollers out of contact with the form while maintaining contact of the form rollers with said distributor rollers.

6. In a printing press the combination with a distributor ink roller, a second roller periodically contacting said distributor roller, and an ink fountain ductor roller periodically contacting said second roller and when said second roller is contacting said distributor roller.

7. In a printing press the combination with a distributor ink roller, a secondroller of relatively small diameter bodily movable into and out of contact with said distributor roller and yieldably urged out of contact therewith, and an ink foun-' tain ductor roller periodically contacting said second roller and moving it into contact with said distributor roller.

8. In a printing press the combination with a group of form inking and distributor'rollers, an additional roller of relatively small diameter, bearings for'said additional roller permitting bodily movement thereof into "and out of contact with a distributor roller of said group, said'additional roller being yieldably-urged out of contact with said distributor roller, an ink fountain, a ductor roller, and means whereby said ductor roller alternately contacts the roller of said fountain and said additional roller and moves'said additional roller into contact with said distributor roller. I

9. In aprinting press the combinationwith a pair of form inking rollers, of a distributor roller contacting the same, a second distributor roller contacting said first mentioned distributor, roller, an additional roller periodically contacting said second distributor roller, an ink fountain, aductor ifirst mentioned and outer form roller, a ductor roller, and means whereby said ductor roller alternately contacts the roller of said fountain and said additional roller when said additional roller is contacting said third distributor roller.

11.'jIn a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with three form inking rollers, of an ink fountain adjacently spaced upwardly and outwardly from the outer form roller of-said group, a distributor roller contacting the intermediate and inner of said form rollers,asec- 0nd distributor roller contacting the intermediate and outer of said form rollers, a third distributor roller contacting said first mentioned distributor roller, a ductor roller, and means whereby said ductor roller is movable above said outer form and said second distributor rollers for supplying ink from said ink fountain to said form and distributor rollers.

12. In a reciprocating bedand cylinder printing press the combination with three form inking rollers, of an ink fountain adjacently spaced upwardly and outwardly from the outerform roller :of said group, a distributor roller contacting the intermediate and inner of said form rollers, a second distributor roller contacting the intermediate and outer of said form rollers, a third distributor roller contacting said first mentioned distributor roller, an additional roller of relatively small diameter periodically contacting said third distributor roller, a ductor'roller, and means whereby Iutor roller contacting the two intermediate rollers of said group, a second distributor roller contacting the outer and the adjacent intermediate roller of said group, a third distributor roller contacting only the inner form roller of said group, a fourth distributor roller contacting said third distributor rollers, and means for periodically supplying ink to said fourth distributor, roller.

.14. In .a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with four form inking rollers for inking a form on the bed, of an ink fountain adjacently spaced upwardly and out- Wardiy from the outer form roller of said group, a distributor roller contacting the two intermediate rollers of said group, a second distributor roller contacting the outer and the adjacent in- 'termediate roller of said group, a third distributor roller contacting only the inner form-roller of said group, :a fourth distributor roller contacting said first mentioned and third distributor rollers, an additional roller of relatively small diameter .pe- 'riodically contacting said fourth distributor roller, a ductor roller, and means whereby said ductor roller is movable above said outer form and said second distributor rollers to alternately contact the roller of said fountain and said additional roller when said additional roller is contacting said' fourth distributor roller.

15. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with a group of form inking rollers, of an ink fountain adjacently spaced outwardly and upwardly from the outer form roller of said group, a ductor roller, a carrier for said ductor roller, and a bearing mounting for-said carrier for the movement. of said outer form roller vertically said outer form roller fountain whereby to provide space for the removal and installation of said outer form roller vertically past said fountain when said ductor said fountain and disposed above said form ,rollers and spaced from said .fountain in'the direction over said form rollers whereby to provide space for the removal and installation of said past said fountain when .said ductor roller is positionedaway from said fountain. v f v 17-. In a reciprocating bedandcylinder printing press the combination-with a group of form inking rollers, of anink fountain adjacentl-y spaced outwardly and upwardly from the outer form rollerof said group, a ductor roller, a carrier for said ductor roller, a pivot mounting for said .carrierindependent of said fountain and disposed above said form rollers in the region of for the movement of said ductor roller above saidouter form roller and to and from said fountain whereby to provide space for the removal and installation of said outer form roller vertically past said ink fountain when said ductor roller is positioned away from said fountain, and fork bearings for said outer form roller and extending obliquely upward to guide this form roller in the installation and removal .of this form roller.

18. In a reciprocating bed and cylinderprinting press the combination with three form inking rollers, of-an ink fountain adjacently spaced outwardly and upwardly from the outer form roller of said group, a distributor roller .contact .ing the intermediate second distributor roller contacting said outer and intermediate form rollers vandhaving its axis disposed in the region of the plane of the axis of said form rollers, a third distributor roller contacting said first mentioned distributor roller, an additional roller of relatively small diameter periodically contacting said third distributor roller, a ductor roller, a carrier for said .ductor roller for, the movement of said ductor above said outer form and said second distributor rollers to alternately contact the roller of said fountain and said additional roller when said additional roller is contacting said third distributor roller, vanda pivot mounting for said carrier disposed above said form-rollers in the region of said outer form roller .and providing space for theremoval and installation of said outer form roller vertically past said fountain when said ductor roller is positioned a-wayfrom said fountain.

. 19. In a printing press the combination with a pair of adjacently spaced for-m inking rollers, of a distributor roller therebetween and contacting the same and having its axis in the region. of the axial plane of said form rollers, bearings for said distributor roller and mounted for adjustment of said distributor roller in directions corresponding with said axial plane, a second distributor roller contacting one of said form rollers, and means for driving said second distributor roller with the bed.

and inner form rollers, a

ductor roller abovesaid outer form roller to and from said fountain and disassociated from "said 20. In a printing press the combination with a group of form inking. rollers, of a distributor roller contacting an adjacent pair thereof and having its axis in the region of the axial plane of said form rollers, a second distributor roller contacting one of'said pair and a third form roller, and means for driving only said'second distributor roller.

21. In a printing press the combination with four form inking rollers, of a distributor roller contacting the intermediate pair of said form rollers, two additional distributor rollers contacting respective of the outer form rollers'and the form rollers adjacent thereto, and means for driving only said first mentioned distributor roller. 7

22. In a printing press the combination with four form inking rollers, of a distributor roller contacting the intermediate pair of said form rollers, two additional distributor rollers contacting respective of the outer form rollers and the form rollers adjacent thereto and having their axes disposed in the region of the axial plane of said form rollers, and means for driving only said first mentioned distributor roller.

23'. In a printing press the combination with ing the same, a distributor roller carried with said frame and contacting an adjacent pair of said form rollers, a second distributor roller contacting one of said pair and a third form roller,

a second frame carrying said second distributor roller and movable with reference to said first mentioned frame to disengage said second distributor roller from its form rollers, and gearing for driving said second distributor roller and permitting movement of said second frame.

24. In a printing press the combination with a group of form inking rollers, of a frame carrying the same, a distributor roller carried with said frame and contactingan adjacent pair of said form rollers and having its axis disposed in the region of the axial plane of said form rollers, means whereby said distributor roller is carried by said frame for adjustment in directions corresponding with the axial plane of said form rollers, a seconddistributor roller contacting one of said pair of form rollers and a third form roller, a second frame carrying said sec-- ond distributor roller and p-ivotally movable with reference to said first mentioned frame to disengage said second distributor roller from its form rollers, and gearing for driving said second distributor roller and permitting movement of said second frame.

25. In a printing press the combination with four form rollers, of a frame underlying the axes of said form rollers and carrying the same and provided with upwardly extending supports between the axes of an outer pair of said form rollers, a distributor roller contacting the intermediate pair of said form rollers, two additional distributor rollers carried with said frame and contacting respective of the outer form rollers, and the form rollers adjacent thereto, a second frame carrying said first mentioned distributor roller and pivotally mounted on said supports to disengage said first mentioned distributor rollor from its form rollers, and gearing for driving said first mentioned distributor roller and permitting movement of said second frame.

26. In a printing press the combination with four form rollers, of a frame underlying the axes of said form rollers and carrying the same and provided with upwardly extending supports between the axes of an outer pair of said form rollers, a. distributor roller contacting the intermediate pair. of said form rollers,-two additional distributor rollers contactingrespective of the outer form rollers and the form rollers adjacent thereto and having their axes disposed in the region of the axial plane of said form rollers,

means whereby said additional distributor rollers are carried by said frame for adjustment in directions corresponding with the axial plane of said form rollers, a second frame carrying said first mentioned distributor roller and pivotally mounted on said supports to disengage said first mentioned distributor roller from its form rollers, and gearing for driving said first mentioned distributor roller and permittingmovement of said second frame.

27. In a reciprocating bed and cylinderprinting press the combination with a group of form inking rollers at one side of the cylinder, of a frame underlying the xes of said form rollers and carrying the same and provided with upwardly extending supports between the axis of the outer form roller and that of the adjacent form roller, a second frame pivoted on said supports above said form rollers, a distributor roller carried by said second.

frame for contacting said adjace'ntform roller and another form roller inwardly adjacent the same, and a second distributorroller carried with said first mentioned frame and contacting said outer form roller and the form roller adjacent thereto and having its axis in the region of the axial plane of said form rollers.

28. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder print- .ing press the combination with a group of form inking rollers at one side of the cylinder, of a frame underlying the axes of said form rollers and carrying the same and provided with upwardly extending supports between the axis of the outer form roller and that of the adjacent form roller,

ing said outer form roller and the form roller adjacent thereto and having its axis in the region of the axial plane of said form rollers, an ink fountain adjacently spaced outwardly and upwardly from said outer form roller, a ductor roller, I

and a carrier for said ductor roller and pivoted on said supports above said form rollers for move ment of the ductor roller for transferring ink from said fountain.

29. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with a group of form rollers at one side of the cylinder, of a frame underlying the axes of said form rollers and carrying the same and pivoted outwardly from said cylinder and provided with upwardly extending supports between the axis of the outer form roller and that of the adjacent form roller, means for pivotally moving said frame to position said form rollers out of contact with a form on the bed during the reversal of the bed in which said form underlies said form rollers, a second frame pivoted on said supports above said form rollers, a distributor roller carried by said second frame for contacting said adjacent form roller and another form roller inwardly adjacent the same, a second distributor roller between and contacting said outer form roller and the form roller adjacent thereto and having its axis in the region of the axial plane of said form rollers, and bearings for said second distributor roller "and adjustably mounted on said supports for adjustment of this roller in directions corresponding with the axial .plane of said form rollers.

30. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with a group of form inking rollers at one side of the cylinder, of a frame underlying the axes of said form rollers and carrying the same and provided with upwardly extending supports between the axis of the outer form roller and that of the adjacent form roller,

frame for contacting said adjacent form roller and another form roller inwardly adjacent the same, a second distributor roller between and contacting said outer form roller and the form roller adjacent thereto and having its axis in the region of the axial plane of said form rollers, bearings for said second distributor roller and movably mounted on said supports for adjust- Jment of this roller in directions corresponding with the axial plane of said form rollers, an ink fountain adjacently spaced outwardly and upwardly from said outer form roller, a ductor roller, and a carrier for said ductor roller and pivoted on said supports above said form rollers for movement of the ductor roller for transferring ink from said fountain.

31. In a printing press the combination with a form inking roller, of a frame carrying said form roller and pivotally movable to engage and disengage said form roller with a form on the bed, of a distributor roller, a second frame carrying said distributor roller and pivotally mounted on said first mentioned frame to engage and disengage said distributor roller with said form roller, releasable means for locking said frames together with said distributor roller contacting said form roller, manually controlledmeans for positioning said'first mentioned frame, while said form roller is in contact with said distributor roller, with said form roller in or out of contact with said form, and gear means for driving said distributor roller while said frames are locked together and permitting said movement of said second frame ing said frame with said rollers disengaged from the form.

33. In a reciprocating bed and cylinder printing press the combination with a form roller frame pivoted for vertical movement on a transverse horizontal axis, a distributor roller frame pivoted on said form roller frame on a corresponding axis, and normally moving therewith, a pair of horizontally spaced distributor ink rollers on said distributor roller frame and contacting form rollers on said form roller frame, a driving gear having its axis disposed below said distributor rollers and so that an arc of the, pivotal axis of said form roller frame and passing through the axis of said driving gear passes between. the axes of said distributor rollers, pinions on said distributor rollers and meshing with said driving gear, and means for lifting said form roller frame, while maintaining the mesh of said pinions with said driving gear, during a reversal of the bed in which a form thereon underlies said form rollers and lowering said form roller frame immediately thereafter.

ROBERT MIEHLE. 

